Ditch forming and lining implement



Jufiy 14 1953 g H PALMER 2,645,091

DITCH FORMING AND LINING IMPLEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1952 INVENTOR. Car/z /94M a w/zw July 14, 1953 c. H. PALMER DITCH FORMING AND LINING IMPLEMENT 3 Sheets Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1952 NN v 9 1953 c. H. PALMER BITCH FORMING AND LINING IMPLEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 5, 1952 46 ii 35 L INVENTOR. (fa/4 /V. 294 ME? Patented July 14, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT} OFFICE 2,645,091 7 DITCH FORMING AND LINING IMPLEMENT Cecil H. Palmer, Phoenix, Ariz. Application July 5, 1952, Serial No. 297,339

This invention concerns irrigation ditch forming and lining implements.

More particularly it concerns implements for forming irrigation ditches along predetermined courses and coincidentally lining them with a layer of concrete.

Heretofore implements have been madefor the same purpose, but these were not practical for the reason that the ditch could not be-kept to a definite line or grade, and that the cement could not be applied evenly within the ditch formed. 7 7

Other devices have been used which line preformed ditches but these are subject to similar deficiencies, and the thickness of concrete applied to the ditch walls and bottom can not be definitely controlled, nor can the transverse 3 Claims. (CI. 61-63) grade be maintained; the result being that the concrete lining of ditches lined with, these devices had weak sections which cracked and leaked after short use.

In view of the foregoing, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a ditch forming plow which will cut a ditch which is true to both longitudinal and transverse grade;

Another object is to providea ditch forming plow, as aforesaid, combined with a detachable concrete spreader so that the formed ditch can be lined with a layer of concrete of predetermined thickness immediately after the ditch is formed;

Another object is to provide a combination ditch forming plow and ditch lining implement which will finish the forming of a ditch and line it and finish the lining with hydraulic, concrete to produce a finished lined ditch in one operation; 7

Still another object is to provide a plow, as above stated, having double blades on each side; a pair of forward blades acting as the principal cutters and having mould boards to remove the major portion of earth from the ditch being formed, and a pair of follower blades adapted to clean the ditch and remove loose clods and rocks before the cement liningis applied; the

object also includes the removal of all such loose objects from the top edges of the ditch bank,

by edging wings attached to the plow;

Further objects include the provision of power operated mechanism to adjustably control and vary the longitudinal course and depth of cut and gradient of the plow, above mentioned, and similar mechanism for controlling the transverse grade or level of the complete implement during operation;

A still further object is to provide power op- 2 2-.- erated mechanism for varying the position of tractive pull so that traction may be appliedat the desired angle relative to drag to achieve the results desired, and so that the implement may be towed in raised inoperative position on wheeled supports. e

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

I attain the foregoing objects by means of the devices, construction, and combination of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved ditch former and liner;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a rear end view thereof;

Figure 4 is a' diagrammatic representation of the hydraulic operating system and parts of the device;

Figure 5 is an elevation of a fragment of one side of the-spreader showing the position of one of the cut off plates;

Figure 6 is a fragment of' the plow body rear plate showing the attachment of the keel piece taken from line 6-6, Figure 1; a

Figure Tis a side elevation of a lateral earth sled; t

Figure 8 is a transverse section thereof taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the severalviews.

The body 2 of this implement consists of two main parts, the ditcher orplow body part 3, and the spreader or liner 4 which is detachably secured to the plow part'by bolts 68 and 13. Ohviously the implement is intended to move in the direction of the point 1 of plow body 3.

The plow body consists of a double V-shaped plow 8 having double ditch side cutting-blades l0 extending angular-1y upwardly and rearwardly frompoint 1. Mold boards l2, extend upward from these blades andare braced at the top and rear by a transverse bodymember l4. I

A shoe or ridin plate I5 extendshorizontally rearward from the point 1 and forms the centrally positioned flat bottom of the ditch, and acts as a support for plow body part land as a'runner on which it slides.

' A draw bar It is secured to the upper surface of plate 15 'between'mold boards ward and forward, and extends forward horizon- Near the forward end portion Ilia of the draw bar there is a vertical guide frame which is supported in guides '49 attached to the sides of the draw bar. The lower end of frame 48 carries l2, curves uptally terminating in the vertical hitchguide. plate These blades have edges in the tending arms the rear upper face of an earth sled 52. This sled slides over the earth a short distance ahead of plow point I and affords vertically adjustable support for the forward end of the plow body 3. A hydraulic cylinder 36 having its head attached to draw bar part lGa is positioned between guides 49 and operates within frame 48. This cylinder has a piston rod 60 attached at its outer end to the top of sled frame 48 so that up and down motion of piston rod 60 will vary the height of sled 52 relative to plow body 3. This will enable the sled 52 to raise or lower plow point 1 relative to the earth on which body 3 rests. With the sled positioned ahead of the plow body on the rigid draw bar it can control the angle of attack of plow point 1 and maintain the shoe l5 at any longitudinal grade desired.

From the underside of the mold boards [2 enclosing plates 22 extend rearward to outwardly offset joggles 23 which form cleaning blades. same lateral plane as and substantially paralleling blades l0, and extend upward and rearward from the lateral edges of shoe plate 15. Rearward of these cleaning blades areplow supporting side plates 24 which join the lateral edges of the shoe plate |5 at their bottoms and the rear edges of cleaning blades 23 along their slanting upper edges. At the rear, these plates join the lateral edges of upwardly and rearwardly slanting plow body rear plate 25. This plate joins the rear end of shoe plate l5 along its bottom edge. Plates 24 slant upwardly and outwardly, conforming to the shape of the ditch formed by blades l0.

Joining the top edge of rear plate 25 is a forwardly and upwardly slanting body plate 26 which has its upper edge secured to transverse member I4, This plate also forms the forward bottom member of hopper 28 whenthe spreader is attached. The forward portion of the hopper sides consist of plates 64 which extend upward from the lateral ends of plate 26.

At the fore part of draw bar 16 there is a vertically adjustableclevis 39. This is carried on the front ends of substantially horizontal angle cranks 3| which embrace the sides of draw bar part Ilia and pivot on transverse pin 32 which extends throughthe draw bar. The front ends of these cranks are brought together at their forward ends where they are attached'to clevis 39 and are joined at the rear by a transverse member 33 at the upper ends of their upwardly ex- 34. The transverse member 33 is pivotally joinedto the piston rod 35 of hydraulic cylinder 36, the head end of which is hinged to horizontal draw bar partlfia.

On each lateral endof transverse plow body frame member |4 there are vertical'guide tubes 40. Vertically slidable lateral wheel supports 4| operate in these tubes and carry stabilizing and riding wheels 42 on horizontal spindles 43. The upper ends of wheel supports 4| are provided with cross heads 44 which connect them with the upper ends of piston rods 45 of hydraulic cylinders 46. The heads of these cylinders are secured to member l4 near its lateral ends. Op-

v eration of piston rods 45 will raise and lower wheels 42 in relation to plow body 3. I Each wheel may be raised and lowered independently of the other. Supports 4| are kept from turning in tubes 40 by keys4|a which slide in grooveswithin tubes 40.

Where the earth through which the ditch is cut is unusually. lumpy, or contains many stones,

body 3.

the wheel 42 may tilt the plow body in contacting and running over these obstructions. In this case the wheels are removed and earth sleds |42 are attached to the bottoms of wheel supports. Attachment is made as shown in Figures '7 and 8. A plug |4| extends from the inside of each sled up into the lower end of each support |4|. Brackets I43 extend upward from the outer sides of each shoe to the shaft on which the wheel was journalled and clamps to it.

In either case the wheels or the sleds constitute tractable supporting elements to afford lateral stability to the whole implement 2, and to enable it to be maintained during operation on a predetermined transverse grade.

The spreader 4 consists of a fore plate 5| which is pitched forward and downwardly at an angle so that it lies substantially parallel to the rear plate 25 of body part 3, when spreader 4 is attached to part 3. Joining the lateral edges of this plate and forming the sides of the spreader are two side plates 53 and 54. Along their bottom edges they join a bottom riding plate 55. The top rear edges of plates 53 and 54 are joined by a transverse brace 56.

Viewed from the rear the spreader plates form a body which has a shape substantially conforming to that of plow body part 3. These plates are set in, however, and differ in size, so that there is a bottom space 51 between the bottom of the ditch 58 formed by plow part 3, and bottom plate 55, and there are lateral spaces 60 between the slanting sides of ditch 58 and side plates 53 and 54. When the complete implement is used for lining a ditch these spaces are filled with concrete along the length of the ditch as hereinafter explained. 1

It will be noted that fore plate 5| of the spreader extends upward beyond the top edges of side plates 53 and 54. This upper portion of this plate forms the rear wall of hopper 28, and its upper edge is in the same horizontal plane as that of the top edge of plate 26 of plow body 3.

The sides of the hopper are formed at the front by triangularshaped fore hopper side plates 54, and by substantially triangular shaped rear hop-- per side plates 65. The abutting of these plates are bent outward forming flanges 6G and 6'! which, when secured by bolts 68, form the up per nieansof attaching the spreader 4 to the plow The lower means of attachit-ig these parts is by the keel piece 2'9 which attached to riding late 55, extends forwardly through an opening in the bottom of fore plate 5|, and is provided with flanges E2 on each side through which attaching bolts 13 pass into plow body rear plate 25.

When the implement parts 3 and 59 are joined, as shown, there is a space 15 between plates 25 and 5|, which forms a substantially continuous pouring slot, extending from side to side, and through the bottom. of the'implement. The tops of the side portions of this vent are closed below the lower edges 18 of the hopper side plates by vertically adjustable cut off plates 11 and I8. To attain adjustment, these plates are drilled with a number of centrally aligned holes 19, any

. one of which will mate with holes 83, in each of planer blades and skive the tops of the ditch banks 86.

Extending rearward from the bottom edges of cut off plates 11 and 18, are ditch liner edgers 81. These edgers are hollow half rounds and extend horizontally along and in contact with the side plates 53 and 54 and their rear ends are secured by clamps 88 to their rear edges 89 of these plates These clamps afford a means of adjustable attachment for the rear ends of the edgers. It is to be noted that these edgers are in horizontal alignment with the bottom edges of cut off plates T! and 18.

Each of the side supporting wheels 42 is adjustable by a piston operating piston rods 45 operating in cylinders 46. Each of the hydraulic cylinders 46 is connected by tubing 90 to a hydraulic pump 9| placed within plow body 3. This pump is operated by motor 92 which drives pump 9! to maintain a constant pressure in supply tank 93. Valves 94, positioned on frame member l4 control this hydraulic pressure and direct it under pressure to these two cylinders; either right or left, as desired. Return lines 95 and a storage tank 96 are provided to take care of the release and return of hydraulic fluid from the cylinders. The cylinders are of the double acting type and normally fluid is maintained under pressure on both sides of the piston. The piston rods are, therefore, held in a determined position by the fluid valves.

In a similar manner valve H30 controls the operation of the piston within cylinder 36 and causes clevis 39 to raise or lower to a position in a horizontal plane level with the drag of the plow. A by-pass I35, having a valve, joins the ends of this cylinder and permits theclevis supporting lever to pivot freely when the by-pass valve is open. This is often desirable when transporting or moving the implement. Likewise valve Hi2 controls fluid pressure to cylinder 53 and is used to move its piston and piston rod St to afford positioning of sled 52 relative to plow body 3.

In use a berm l 84a is formed along the line of the ditch desired. The top of this is smoothed, and bladed to the grade desired. The ditcher and liner is then drawn over the berm, along the line of the desired ditch with a caterpillar tractor, taking a first cut. This may be about two thirds of the total depth of the desired ditch. In this operation the depth of out taken by the plow is watched carefully and the depth of cut regulated by controlling the vertical position of sled 52 relative to plow point 'I. This is done by manipulation of valve I02. The vertical position of clevis is adjusted, relative to its attachment to the tractor, so the plow will run true to grade and neither hog in or ride out of the ditch.

The type of caterpillar used to draw the implement is such that its tracks ride on the banks of the ditch as it is formed. This packs the banks down. Fresh earth thrown up by a preceding out is compacted by the next run of the tractor.

After the first cut a second cut is taken and the bottom of the ditch maintained to grade while the tractor rides on the banks thrown up by the previous cut. The longitudinal grade angle is indicated by adjustable grade level i04.

An operator rides within the plow body 3. In this position he is within easy reach of all of the valve handles mentioned.

Transverse level is indicated by spirit levell05 mounted on frame member M. The transverse cut of the plow is controlled by operating right or left valves 94 and thus controlling contact of wheels 42 or sleds I42 with the ground. It is to 4 along taking the cut. Concrete from the hopper flows down and out through slot 75 and fills the spaces 51 and 60 between the plates 53 and 54 and 55 and the sides and bottom of the ditch.

As the concrete issues from slot 15 it is troweled and evenly spread by the plates of spreader body 4. The thickness of the concrete lining is determined by the distance between these spreader body plates and the sides and bottom of the ditch formed.

In making the last out it is to be noted that the blades I9 cut and remove earth so to expose fresh soil. After these blades pass over or through the ditch any clods, lumps of soil, or rocks not fully removed by blades ID, are caught by secondary or cleaning blades 23. These remove the clods, and the like, and move them upward to the ditch banks where they are caught by the wings 84 and and skived over the sides of the banks. A clean ditch having walls and bottom of fresh soil is therefore presented ready for pouring and a uniform lining of the predetermined desired thickness results.

Since the thickness of the lining is governed by the inset of plates 54, 55 and 53 relative to the corresponding plow body plates, a lining of a different thickness may be made by removing the body portion 4 and substituting one having smaller dimensions and a greater inset distance from the side and bottom plates of the plow body 3. It is also to be noted that the spreader may be entirely removed, if desired, and the plow body used alone to form a ditch.

It is to be noted that cut off plates 11 and 18 limit the upper limits of the pour and determine the top edges of thelining. As the'iinplement moves forward edgers 81 contact the upper edges of the lining, and smoothv it to form a rounded upper edge. This is parallel'to thebottom lining of the ditch and finishesthe top edges'of the lining. At the-same time the wings 84 and 85 skive and smoothofi" the top ofthe banks and in this way leave a finished completed ditch.

While I have illustrated the preferred form of my implement I realize that. there are many modifications which may. be made, all of which, however, may well remain within the spirit of the invention. It is also realized that ditchers have heretofore been made that are alleged to form ditches, and that ditch liners have been proposed thathave merits, as such. The advantages and novel constructions and 7 combinations of parts of my implement are, therefore, defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A ditch forming and lining implement composed of a plow body having a point, a shoe plate extending horizontally rearward from said point; ditch side forming blades extending upwardly and rearwardly from said point; body side enclosing plates extending from the lateral edges of said shoe plate upward and outward and joining the inner faces of said blades; a downwardly and forwardly slanting rear plate, joining the rear edges of said body side plates and shoe plate, and enclosing the rear of said body; a transverse body member joining the rear portions of the upper edges of said blades; vertically adjustable transverse leveling wheels disposed on the lateral ends of said transverse frame member; a draw bar rigidly attached to the forward portion of said plow body and extending forward therefrom; a vertically adjustable clevis attached to the forward end of said draw bar; a vertically adjustable earth sled attached to the forward portion of said draw bar, adapted to slide on the earth ahead of said plow point; hydraulic mechanism on said plow body for adjusting the vertical positions of said transverse leveling wheels, said clevis, and said earth sled; together with a cement liner and spreader, including a horizontal bottom plate, outwardly slanting side plates, and a forwardly and downwardly slanting front plate, removably attached to the rear of said plow body, in spaced relation to its rear plate, forming a pouring slot between the rear plate of said plow part and the forward plate of said spreader; and a hopper formed over said slot, adapted to receive hydraulic cement and direct it into said slot; the sides and bottom of said spreader being set inward relative to the side plates and shoe plate of said plow body to define a space within the walls and bottom of a ditch formed by said plow, limiting the thickness of the lining thereof.

2. A plow body having a point, a bottom shoe, side plates, and a downwardly and forwardly slanting rear plate; V-blades for forming a flat bottomed ditch with outwardly slanting sides; a draw bar rigidly attached to said plow body and extending forwardly therefrom; an earth sled riding on the earth ahead of said plow point disposed on a frame vertically slidable on said draw bar; power driven mechanism connected to said frame to raise and lower said sled; a clevis vertically adjustable by power driven means attached to the forward end of said draw bar; vertical guide members laterally disposed on said plow body; tractable ground riding supporting elements slidably supported in said guide members having power driven mechanism for raising and lowering them relative to said plow body to maintain lateral stability thereof; a spreader for hydraulic cement for lining a ditch formed by said plow body having a downwardly and forwardly slanting front plate and bottom and side plates arranged in substantially the same transverse relationship as the bottom and side plates of said plow body, and set inwardly to provide space for cement lining within a ditch formed by said plow body, attached to the rear of said plow body with the front plate of said spreader in spaced relation to the rear plate of said plow body to provide a pouring slot; and a hopper positioned above said pouring slot adapted to feed cement into said space between said plow body and said spreader so that it will flow from said slot.

3. A ditch forming and lining implement composed of a plow body having a point, a shoe plate extending horizontally rearward from said point; ditch side forming blades extending upwardly and rearwardly from said point; body side enclosing plates extending from the lateral edges of said shoe plate upward and outward and joining the inner faces of said blades; a downwardly and forwardly slanting rear plate, joining the rear edges of said body side plates and shoe plate, and enclosing the rear of said body; a transverse body member joining the rear portions of the upper edges of said blades; vertically adjustable transverse leveling wheels disposed on the lateral ends of said transverse frame member; a draw bar rigidly attached to the forward portion of said plow body and extending forward therefrom; a vertically adjustable clevis attached to the forward end of said draw bar; a vertically adjustable earth sled attached to the forward portion of said draw bar, adapted to slide on the earth ahead of said plow point; hydraulic mech anism on said plow body for adjusting the vertical positions of said transverse leveling wheels, said clevis, and said earth sled; together with a cement liner and spreader, including a horizontal bottom plate, outwardly slanting side plates, and a forwardly and downwardly slanting front plate, removably attached to the rear of said plow body, in spaced relation to its rear plate, forming a pouring slot between the rear plate of said plow part and the forward plate of said spreader; and a hopper formed over said slot, adapted to receive hydraulic cement and direct it into said slot; the sides and bottom of said spreader being set inward relative to the side plates and shoe plate of said plow body to define a space within the walls and bottom of a ditch formed by said plow, limiting the thickness of the lining thereof; a ditch edge trimmer and lining finisher composed of plates closing off the upper portions of said cement pouring slot on each side thereof removably secured to said spreader so that the height of their lower edges can be varied, edging finishers extending rearwardly from said plates, and skiving wings extending outward and slightly rearward from said plates to trim and finish the banks of the ditch thrown up by said plow body blades,

CECIL H. PALMER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 992,649 Gale May 16, 1911 1,201,649 Taylor Oct. 1'7, 1916 1,213,434 Tetzloff Jan, 23, 1917 2,224,047 Grohs Dec. 3, 1940 2,320,855 Dukes June 1, 1943 2,598,514 Denning May 27, 1952 2,625,754 Morgan Jan. 20, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 436,367 Great Britain of 1935 

